Chen Muye glared at Wen Qimo.
Wen Qimo said seriously, "Madam, it's like this. Lin Qiye and Lin Xi Chen initially applied to go to Qiqihar, but later chchange their mind and went to Urumqi instead."
Auntie was skeptical. "What about his documents?"
Wen Qimo took out several thick stacks of documents from his briefcase, placed them one by one on the table, and pushed them in front of his aunt.
"Lin Qiye's paperwork is all here, please keep it safe." Wen Qimo thought for a moment, then continued, "There might be some more documents coming over later, then we'll pay a visit in person."
Auntie squinted, held the document a long way off, and read it word by word, afraid of missing any important information.
After a long while, she finally put down the document and let out a long sigh.
"His eyes have only just healed, I'm afraid something might go wrong while he's in the army..."
"Please rest assured, we have conducted a thorough examination of Lin Qiye's eyes, and there will be no further problems. He is perfectly healthy." Wen Qimo's voice softened. "Besides, children grow up, and it's necessary for them to step outside the protection of their families and experience some challenges, isn't it?"
Aunt opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she could only sigh helplessly.
"Madam, this is the twin's military allowance. Please accept it." Chen Muye took out 2 thick envelopes and pushed it in front of his aunt.
Auntie lifted a corner of the envelope, her whole body trembled, and she looked at the two of them in shock:
"This...this is way too much!!"
"The country provides very good benefits for soldiers now, and Lin Qiye's unit is quite special, so the subsidies are relatively more than in other places," Wen Qimo explained.
"Special? Won't it be dangerous?" Aunt's expression changed.
"No, the 'special' part here refers to... he's quite far away," Wen Qimo said with a straight face, making up a lie. "After all, it takes a long time to get from here to Urumqi."
"So that's how it is." Auntie held the envelope in her hand, fidgeting with anxiety.
It was the first time she had ever seen so much money.
"Comrade, could you please send this money to him for me?" my aunt asked worriedly. "He's going to such a far place all by himself; what will he do without money? And I'm not at ease leaving so much money at home!"
"The army doesn't need this much money, and we have regulations that this money is for family members. Please be sure to accept it." Wen Qimo's eyes narrowed slightly, and his voice gradually became serious.
"As for safety... rest assured, as long as we are still here, no one can touch you."
"When will he return?"
"Ten years." Chen Muye suddenly spoke, his eyes filled with seriousness. "Ten years later, he will definitely come back."
"Ten years..." Auntie murmured, glancing back at Yang Jin, and murmured to herself, "Ten years from now, A-Jin should be in college, right..."
Wen Qimo and Chen Muye chatted with their aunt for a while longer, and when it was almost time, they got up to say goodbye.
"By the way, can you make phone calls from there?" Auntie suddenly remembered something.
"Of course," Wen Qimo nodded. "I'll give you a call in a bit; you can contact him as long as it's not training time."
"Okay, okay."
Auntie saw the two off, then stood alone at the door for a while before slowly returning to the house and sitting down, staring blankly at the room that belonged to Lin Qiye.
Her eyes gradually turned red.
"Mom... it's a good thing that my brother is going to join the army." Yang Jin walked forward with the little black toad in his arms and comforted him. "Xiao Chen could also learn to be tougher and more confident!"
"Mom knows." Aunt wiped her eyes. "The siblings is growing up and should go out and see the world. It's really a good thing for them to train in the army."
"When he comes back, he'll be a veteran, and when Mom tries to find him a wife, there will definitely be plenty of women vying for him!"
Yang Jin:...
"I just... can't put my mind at ease." Aunt looked up at the window, lost in thought....
"It's time to go."
Chen Muye walked downstairs, patted Lin Qiye who was secretly staring out the window, and said. Lin Xi Chen was squatting down, resting her chin on her hand; she looked sulky about not being able to go back to see her auntie and retrieve her belongings.
Lin Qiye stared intently at his aunt on the balcony and asked softly, "How is it?"
"She believed it."
"That's good... Did you give her the money?"
"I gave it to them." Chen Muyi paused. "That's all your subsidies and a year's salary that you've overspent. What will you do if you give it all to them?"
"I've saved some money over the years, and if I'm careful with it, I should be able to make ends meet for a year."
Seeing this, Chen Muyi paused for a moment, then added, "If you guys are free, you can come to the office for meals."
"Really!? Yay!!! I don't need to find extra work anymore!" Lin Xi Chen's eyes lit up the moment she heard "free food," and she immediately stood up in excitement. "But I have a huge appetite, so... I hope Captain Chen doesn't mind..."
"Mm..." Chen Muye patted Lin Xi Chen on the head a few times, as if to reassure her.
Lin Qiye asked in surprise, "Aren't temporary team members not provided with food and lodging?"
"Temporary team members don't get food and lodging, but..." Chen Muye patted his shoulder and walked towards the van not far away.
"Except for the meals I cook myself."
Lin Qiye was taken aback, and a smile appeared on his lips.
Ring ring ring—!
Just then, Lin Qiye's newly acquired cell phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Auntie!"
"Xiao Qi? Xiao Chen? Are you guys Xiao Qi and Xiao Chen?"
"It's us, Auntie."
"You silly siblings, you guys went to join the army without even telling me. If you wanted to go... I wouldn't have stopped you! Don't you consider me your aunt anymore? Hmm?"
"I'm sorry, Auntie... I... I was wrong."
"Sigh... Are you two on the train?"
"Um."
"How long will it take to get there?"
"I heard it will take two days; the little green car is a bit slow."
"Once you get to the military camp, make sure you eat well; don't overwork yourself!"
"I understand, Auntie."
"Also, your aunt has received all these subsidies. I will keeping them for now, to use when you come back to get married."
"Auntie, the benefits in our unit are very good; we get a lot of money every year. You can use that money first."
"You child, you don't know how to save at all. Keep your money safe and make sure you live a good life, do you hear me?"
"Yes, Auntie."
"Yes, Auntie!"
"Hiya, nothing else. Auntie will hang up now."
"Okay, goodbye Auntie."
"Oh, by the way... once you arrive in Qiqihar, remember to let your aunt know you've arrived safely."
"We definitely will, goodbye Auntie."
"Auntie.... Goodbye...!"
There was a long silence on the other end of the phone before my aunt's slightly hoarse voice finally came through again.
"Okay, goodbye..."
Beep, beep, beep...
The phone went dead. Auntie gripped the phone tightly, sitting there like a statue, completely still.
Immediately afterwards, two streams of tears flowed from her eyes.
She slowly slumped onto the table, burying her face in her shoulder, and wept silently…
Yang Jin sighed softly.
Turning to look out the window, he murmured to himself:
"These two siblings, you idiot..."
...
Outside the old residential area.
"Qiye, Xiao Chen it's time to go." Chen Muye turned around and said calmly.
Lin Qiye put his phone away, took one last look at the low house in the distance, and hummed in agreement.
A strong wind is picking up.
Lin Qiye's black hair was slightly blown up by the wind. He reached out and tightened his collar before turning and walking into the wind.
Their clothes fluttered loudly!